The kitchens we all dream of — sleek and contemporary, cozy and traditional, packed with innovation and imagination — become a reality for one day.

“The Annual Kitchen Tour is such a great opportunity to grab your friends and make a day of it — peek inside glamorous homes and relax over a bite to eat in town. You can tour chic homes in Portsmouth’s Mill Pond areas, where sustainable design meets local history!” – Kathleen Soldati

PORTSMOUTH — The Music Hall’s 22nd Annual Kitchen Tour on Saturday, May 4, 10 a.m.-3 p.m., will feature houses across historic Portsmouth and will serve as a link between historic architecture and modern day design. Stories of these houses and their kitchens will vary for each location and will hold special meaning for every person who visits. The homes are filled with local memories and the lives of many historical figures important to Portsmouth.

Built by a Sea Captain

One house was built in 1803 by ship captain John Seward and was remodeled in 2010, still retaining around 90% of its original appearance. Notable features of the house include a hidden refrigerator and a recycled wooden breakfast bar. The ceilings, wooden floor boards, and old plaster walls have been maintained since the initial 1803 installation. Energy Star furnaces and central air are some modern amenities the house features while still reflecting its history.

Home to former mayor

Back in the early 1900s, another house was owned by Fernando W. Hartford, known for acquiring the different newspapers then printing in Portsmouth and prompting The Portsmouth Herald to become the city’s premiere newspaper. His work over the years led to a stronger, more effective local government as well the growth of The Portsmouth Herald from four pages to more than 20 pages. He was also instrumental in building the Sally Long Bridge to unite Portsmouth with Maine and creating the Portsmouth Chamber of Commerce.

The first printing press

A third house held the first printing press in New Hampshire, and quite possibly in Colonial America. The NH Gazette was launched from this site in 1756 and published here until the original structure burned down in 1804. The house was rebuilt in 1878 and was later remodeled in 2010. Green features include auto-watering window boxes and other innovative landscaping techniques. Other highlights include the magnificent chandeliers and pristine granite countertops in the kitchen. During renovations, great care was taken to keep to keep historical integrity, although some interior features were updated in the process. French Second Empire architecture remains the design theme, evident in details throughout, from doors to heating elements.

About the tour

The kitchens we all dream of — sleek and contemporary, cozy and traditional, packed with innovation and imagination — become a reality for one day as we present our popular Kitchen Tour — an annual spring benefit for The Music Hall! Featuring sensational kitchens in homes around North and South Mill Ponds of Portsmouth.

According to Kathleen Soldati, Music Hall staff, “The Annual Kitchen Tour is such a great opportunity to grab your friends and make a day of it — peek inside glamorous homes and relax over a bite to eat in town. You can tour chic homes in Portsmouth’s Mill Pond areas, where sustainable design meets local history!”

Tickets

Tickets are on sale now; $25 ($23 for members). $27 on the day of the event. Tickets can be purchased at The Music Hall box office in the Historic Theater, 28 Chestnut Street, Portsmouth, over the phone at (603)-436-2400, or on our website www.themusichall.org